The Battle of Noryang ended the Japanese invasions of Korea and resulted in the death of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the war's most celebrated naval commander.
Key Facts
- Date
- 16 December 1598
- Allied ships (Joseon & Ming)
- ~150 ships
- Japanese ships engaged
- ~500 ships
- Japanese ships destroyed or captured
- More than half of 500
- Death of Yi Sun-sin
- Killed by arquebus bullet during battle
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death in 1598, Japanese forces began withdrawing from Korea. Shimazu Yoshihiro attempted to break through with his fleet to link up with Konishi Yukinaga's trapped forces, prompting the allied Joseon–Ming fleet to intercept him at the Noryang Strait.
In the early morning of 16 December 1598, approximately 150 allied Joseon and Ming ships under admirals Yi Sun-sin and Chen Lin attacked roughly 500 Japanese vessels commanded by Shimazu Yoshihiro. The allied force destroyed or captured more than half of the Japanese fleet before Shimazu's battered survivors escaped toward Busan.
The surviving Japanese forces retreated to Busan and within days sailed back to Japan, effectively ending the six-year war. Admiral Yi Sun-sin died from an arquebus wound at the height of the battle; Chen Lin reported the outcome to the Wanli Emperor, and both commanders were honored as national heroes.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Yi Sun-sin, Chen Lin.
Side B
1 belligerent
Shimazu Yoshihiro.